Donna Deussen - High Wire

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:36
Size: 102,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:16)  1. One Note Samba
(3:40)  2. High Wire
(3:39)  3. Skylark
(4:22)  4. Blues In The Night
(3:11)  5. Old Devil Moon
(4:35)  6. River
(3:43)  7. Never Will I Marry
(4:08)  8. Sugar
(3:12)  9. Blue Skies
(3:45) 10. Show Me
(4:08) 11. Nature Boy
(2:52) 12. With Every Breath I Take

More telling than her Berklee College of Music magna cum laude degree is singer Donna Deussen's private instruction under Tierney Sutton. Sutton is second only to Cassandra Wilson when considering the seismic styleistic shifts in jazz vocals over the past 20 years. Deussen integrates her instruction intelligently, avoiding imitation. Her lessons learned are made her own. Duessen has released two recordings, about ten years apart. Side-by-side, They offer a staccato look at the singer's evolution. In a highly competitive field, Donna Duessen is deserving of much more attention than she has been given. Her time has come.

Vocalist Donna Deussen reveals the influence of Tierney Sutton through her inventive arrangements of the American Songbook. Creative arranging can give new life and reconsideration to jazz standards. Deussen joins Sutton and Wilson in the forefront of using arrangements to reveal the nuances of these well-crafted songs. On her debut, High Wire, Deussen surveys a mainstream collection of standards. "Skylark" is given a strolling treament that shows the song effective as an up-beat ballad. Deussen blows the carbon out on her wide-open take of "Blues In The Night." Guest saxophonist Eric Marienthal gives a bar-walking R&B solo that gives way to a slow blues vamp before Deussen heats things up again singing torch at 2000 degrees. 

"That Old Devil Moon" is transformed into a Latin excursion propelled by pianist Mark Massey , who solos robustly. Deussen treats Joni Mitchell's "River" respectfully, allowing this modern standard to fully breathe. Deussen's voice is durable and well-balanced. Her phrasing is certain and well considered. Deussen imparts in her songs that part of herself that enriches the lyrics by her delivery. "I Will Never Marry" is upbeat and sung with a matter- of-fact air that stikes a keen juxtaposition against Stanley Turrentine's sexy and smoldering "Sugar." Massey changes to electric piano for this latter tune, giving it a strange '70s -'00s vibe that swingseffortlessly. High Wire is fully formed and realized as a debut. What does Deussen do next... ~ C.Michael Bailey  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/donna-deussen-donna-deussen-by-c-michael-bailey__14455.php

Personnel: Donna Deussen (vocals); Mark Massey (keyboards); Aldo Bentivegna (drums).

High Wire

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Donna Deussen & The Paul Weitz Trio - On The Street Where You Live

Styles: Vocal And Guitar Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:03
Size: 89,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:24)  1. California Dreamin'
(3:40)  2. Do Wrong Shoes
(3:10)  3. On the Street Where You Live
(4:17)  4. Both Sides Now
(4:49)  5. Black Coffee   A Night in Tunisia
(3:06)  6. Fly Me to the Moon
(3:25)  7. The Very Thought of You
(3:03)  8. Sister Sadie
(5:25)  9. If I Only Had a Brain
(3:40) 10. Waltz for Debby

Over the past 2 years, recording artists Donna Deussen (vocals)  and Paul Weitz (guitar) have been developing unique arrangements  for both duo and full band settings. The result of their efforts  is their new co-produced CD, “On The Street Where You Live.” The  CD features Matt VanBenschoten on bass, Gus Duffy on drums,  Wayne Wayne on sax, and Geoff Nudell on clarinet and flute. Join  all six musicians for their CD Release Party on Saturday, May 3rd  at Upstairs At Vitello’s.

Donna Deussen’s singing has been praised by John Gilbert of EJazzNews: “her phrasing is impeccable, her tone is clear, and is a joy to the ear of the discerning listener.” A magna cum laude graduate of Berklee College of Music, Donna has performed in venues all over California and Arizona, and also works as a session singer and vocal coach. Her debut CD, “High Wire” featured saxophonist Eric Marienthal.

Paul Weitz has been a professional musician for over 30 years, and studied guitar under Ted Greene and Sid Jacobs. Scott Yanow of L.A. Jazz Scene says, “Paul Weitz is a superior bop-based guitarist with a concept of his own.” Paul performs throughout the Los Angeles area, and his debut CD “The Paul Weitz Trio” garnered favorable reviews and air play on jazz radio stations including KKJZ in Los Angeles.

Musicians: Donna Deussen – Vocals;  Paul Weitz – Guitars; Matt VanBenschoten – Bass; Gus Duffy – Drums; Wayne Wayne – Sax; Geoff Nudell – Clarinet and Flute

On The Street Where You Live

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